Door lock



J. C. ABEL Dec. 3o, 1941.

DOOR LOCK Filed May 19, 1939 2 SheetsSheet 1 Iil ATTORNEY Dec 30, 1941 J. c. ABEL 2,267,704

DooRLocK` Filed May 19, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f df- ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 30, l1941 Doon LooK Joseph C. Abel, Berwick, Pa., assignor to American Car and Foundry Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of N ew Jersey Application May 19, 1939, Serial No. 274,515

16 Claims.

This invention relates to door locks in general and in particular to such locks when'used in connection with railway freight cars having `sliding side doors.

In the past numerous locks for sliding freight car doors have been proposed and used but in all cases some part of the lock was loosely mounted on the car structure andl could swing during transit of the car causing damage to the car sides or door and often being broken. In railway car' service it is essential that the doors v may be locked in either a fully closed vor a partially open position. The majority of previous lock arrangements accomplishing' the essential locking and Ventilating features have been made in two parts, namely, one part to lock the door open, the other part to lock the door in a partially open or ventilated position. It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a simple door lock which may be used to force the door toward open or closed position and which may be used to positively lock the door in a plurality of ventilated positions as well as in fully closed position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a door lock in which the locking member is secured to the car structure and must rotate in a plane parallel thereto.

A further object of the invention isthe provision of a locking cam rotatably mounted upon the car structure and engageable with a rigid projection carried by the door to hold the door in a plurality of predetermined positions, together With means for positively locking the cam in a plurality of positions preventing its rotation.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from a study of the following description and accompanying drawings, in which: i

Figure 1 is an elevational i view of the door lock;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken substantially through the axis of rotation of the locking cam;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially yon line 3-3 of Fig. 2; 1 i

Fig. 4 is an elevational view similar to Figure 1 but showing a modification thereof;

Fig. 5 isa sectional View taken substantially at the axis of rotation of the locking cam shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an elevational View showing the cam in position for counter-clockwise rotation to engage the door for movement of the door toward closed position;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view showing the door rangement 4 Which defines one edge of the door opening and is formed with a sealing strip 6 'against which the door framing member 8 carried at the front edge of the door I0 may seat. The door framing member has attached thereto an angular shaped projection l2 which may be Welded to the framing member as shown in Fig. 2

ormay extend into the framing `member as clearly shown in Fig. 5. This angular projection as shown extends outwardly beyond the outer plane of the door but in some instances this may be undesirable, in which case the projection may be located forwardly of the `door but inwardly from the outer plane thereof.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive a bracket I4 may be secured to the car structure by any suitable means, such as rivets I3, andthis bracket may be formed of any suitable contour but in the instance shown is substantially cylindrical having the cylindrical portion It braced by buttressing gussets I8. The cylindrical portion of the bracket terminates in an enlarged flange 20 forming a lip adapted to be engaged by angular shaped retaining clip 22 which is securely riveted to the locking cam member 24. 'l The locking cam is preferably formed as a semi-` circular plate from which outer and inner ribs 26 and 28 respectively project, thus defining therebetween a channel like groove. The outer and inner ribs have their surfaces substantially parallel to each other and are curved in such a manner as to place each portion of the ribs at a different distance from the axis of rotation of the cam. The ribs 28, or, in other Words, the cam surfaces, may be curved to any desired contour but are preferably formed as involutes of a circle. As clearly shown, however, the ends of the outer rib 26 are preferably made straight as at 30, while the ends of rib 28 are curved at a sharper angle, thereby providing a slightly enlarged throat opening permitting more ready engagement of the locking cam with the projection l2. The inner portion of the locking cam is formed with a projection having a shoulder 32 adapted to engage the outer surface of the enlarged flange on the bracket and which surrounds a preferably machined projection 34 fitting within a preferably machined area in the end of the bracket, thus providing a smooth surface upon which the cam may rotate through the full 360. A substantially square opening 36 extends through the projection of the locking cam and is adapted to slidably receive a substantially square portion 39 formed on one end of a cam locking rod. Spaced ribs 49 extend outwardly from the outer surface of the cam plate and on either side of the opening through the projection or bearing portion of the cam, and the inner surfaces of these ribs, as well as two side portions of the opening in vthe cam projection, are grooved as at 42, and these grooves are adapted to align at each 90 position of the cam, with grooves 44 cut in the side walls 46 of a square hole formed inside the bracket adjacent the base portion. The inner end of the cani locking rod is provided with outs-tanding lugs 46 either formed on the rod or by means of a pin inserted therethroughand these lugs are adapted to slide in the grooves 44 and 42 to permit outward sliding of the locking rod to the position shown by dash and single dot position in Fig. 2. The grooves 42 do not extend completely to the edge of ribs 49 and,l therefore, the pin can not be moved from the cam once the assembly has been mounted on the car structure, but as soon as the lugs liistrike the end of the groove 42, then the cam locking rod may be rotated into position between the ribs 42 and as shown by dash and double dot position on Fig 2.V With the cam locking rod in this position the squared portion 3S closely engages the ribs 40 and the rod may be used as an operating handle. If desired, and as shown on the drawings, a second permanent handle 59 may be cast integralV with or secured to the locking cam. l

The operationk of the lock disclosed in Figs. l toA 3 may be fully explained by reference to Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9. Assuming the door to be in locked position as shown in Figure 1, the cam r tilating position, the cam vwill be rotated clockwise from the position shown in Figure 1, after which the cam locking rod may be again rotated and slid into position locking the cam against rotation relative to the bracket and causing cam surfaces 26 and l2S to hold the projection l2 of the door preventing any movement of the door either toward open or closed position. Withdrawal of the locking pin will permit rotation of the cam in either direction, either pulling the door closed or forcing it to a further open position. If the door is forced to a further open position, the cam will assume the position shown in Fig. 7, in which position the cam may again be locked if desired or itv may be rotated free of the door projection as shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 6

also shows the cam in a position to grip the door and move the same toward closed position through the cam surface 26 forcing the door projection toward the axis of cam rotation.. Fig. 8 shows the condition in which the door may be If it is desired to immediately locked by a clockwise rotation of' the cam and such a movement is desirable where it is possible to force the door manually substantially into fully closed position. When the door is open it is desirable that the cam member cannot swing into the door opening and this is accomplished as shown in Fig. 9 by locking the cam in such a position that no part thereof can project into the door opening. It will thus be seen that the bracket and cam are provided with square openings permitting the cam locking pin to engage both cam and bracket at any 90 position, thus permitting the door to be locked in a closed position or locked in two positions of ventilation, while the cam member may be additionally locked in a fourth position preventing its swinging into the door opening. It will be obvious that, instead of square openings in the bracket and cam, openings having any desired number of sides may be used and, therefore, these openings 4may be properly referred to as polygonal since they may vary from three sided to as many sides as is desired. Polygonal as used here is intended in its broad sense as indicated by its origin and not in a more limited sense as sometimes used.

Figs. 4 and 5 disclose a modification of that previously desired but since the main differences reside in the manner in which the cam is secured in the bracket and locked against rotation, the identical portions have been indicated by the same reference numerals as was used in connection with Figs. 1 to 3 and 6 to 9 inclusive. In this form the bracket member is formed with a shoulder 6D from Which a cylindrical projection 62 extends outwardly and upon which the projection 64 of the cam is adapted to rotate. Instead of using the locking clip as previously described, the cam is locked in position by means of a square bolt 66 extending through the bracket and carrying on its inner end a nut 68 preferably riveted or sealed in position. The outer end of this bolt is preferably formed with a head having a shouldered portion 10 from which the lug l2 extends upwardly. This lug is formed with an opening adapted to receive a rivet or other means 'i4 passing through the lug and through the ends of a U-shaped locking strap 76. The locking strap may be rotated through into engagement with one or the other of lugs 13 and 80 formed on the outer surface of the locking carn. Operating handles 82 are formed on the locking cam in order that the cam may be readily moved to release or force the door to open or closed position. In this form the U-shaped locking strap, together with the lugs on the locking cam, constitute the locking means by means of which the cam may be locked in any 90D position. It will, of course, be obvious that the number of lugs formed on the cam may be multiplied, to any desired extent, thus providing additional locking positions for the cam when necessary. In this form it is only necessary to lift the locking strap 16 clear of the cam lug 78, after which the cam may be rotated clockwise 90 and the door locked in the first ventilated position by rotating the U-shaped strap 180 into engagement with lug 60. The door may be forced into a second Ventilated position by lifting the U-shaped strap clear of lug 80 and rotating the cam 90 clockwise, after which the strap T6 may be again low ered over lug 18. The cam, after release from the door, may be locked in a position such as shown in Fig. 9 by engaging the U-shaped strap,

when in the position shown in Fig. 4, overthe lug 80.

Seal openings 90 are provided in the locking means and adapted to align with similar openings 92 formed in the locking cam, thus permitting the insertion of the customary seal which must be broken before the cam may be moved. It will thus be seen that in both forms of the invention the door may be positively locked and sealed in at least three positions and that by slight modications thereof it may be locked and sealed in additional positions.

While the invention has been described more or less in detail, it is obvious that various modications and rearrangements of parts, other than those shown and described, may be made, and all such modifications and rearrangements of parts are contemplated as will fall Within the scope of the appended claims which dene my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a door locking device having a keeper, a rotatably mounted locking cam arranged to cooperatively engage the keeper, and a cam locking means engageable with the locking cam in a plurality of selected positions to prevent rotation of the locking cam from the selected position, said cam locking means constituting an operating handle for the locking cam when out of locking position.

2. In a door locking device having a keeper, a locking cam rotatably mounted for 360 degrees rotation and arranged to cooperatively engage the keeper, and a cam locking means engageable with the locking cam to positively lock the same against rotation in at least four positions substantially equally spaced around the 360 degrees of cam rotation.

3. In a door locking device having a keeper, a rotatably mounted locking cam arranged to cooperatively -engage said keeper in a plurality of positions separated by approximately 90 degrees of cam rotation, and a cam locking means engageable with the locking cam to positively lock the same against rotation in said plurality of positions.

4. In a door lock for structures having a fixed frame member and a movable frame member, said door lock including a keeper, a locking cam rotatably secured to one of the frame members, substantially identical double cam surfaces formed on said locking cam and engageable with said keeper to prevent relative movement between said frame members, and cam locking means engageable with said locking cam and adjacent frame member to lock the cam in a plurality of preselected positions whereby said movable frame member may be positively held in a plurality of partially open positions relative to the xed frame member.

5. In a door lock for structures having a xed frame member and a movable frame member, said door lock including a keeper, a locking cam rotatably secured to one of the frame members, double cam surfaces formed on said locking cam and engageable with said keeper to prevent relative movement between said frame members, cam operating means secured to said locking cam, and cam locking means engageable with said locking cam and adjacent frame member to lock the cam in a plurality of predetermined positions whereby said movable frame member may be held in a plurality of positions relative to the iixed frame member, said cam locking means being movable to disengage the cam and provide additional cam operating means.

6.'In a vehicle having a door post and a door slidable relative thereto toward an open or closed position, a door locking device including a xed keeper, a bracket secured to the door post, a locking cam rotatably mounted on said bracket, a plurality of cam surfaces formed on said cam yand engageable with separate surfaces of said keeper to positively hold said door in a preselected partially open position, and a cam locking means engageable with said bracket and cam to lock the cam against rotation and prevent movement of said door from the preselected partially open position.

7. In a vehicle having a door post and a door slidable relative thereto toward an open position, a door locking device having a xed keeper, a bracket secured to the door post, a locking cam rotatably mounted on said bracket, a pair of cam surfaces formed on said cam and each engaging the keeper and together holding the door in a preselected position, one of said cam surfaces being so constructed and arranged as to force the door from closed toward open position during rotation of the cam and the other of said cam surfaces being so constructed and arranged as to force the door from a partially open position toward closed position during rotation of the cam, and cam looking means engageable With said bracket and cam to lock the cam against rotation and to retain the door in either closed or partially open position.

8. In a vehicle having a door post and a door movable relative thereto, a door locking device including a xed keeper, a bracket secured to the door post, a locking cam rotatably mounted on said bracket and engageable with said keeper to lock the door in closed position, aligned openings in said cam and bracket substantially at the axis of rotation of the cam, and a cam locking means insertable in said openings to lock said cam to prevent rotation thereof.

9. In a vehicle having a door post and a door movable relative thereto, a door locking device including a xed projection, a bracket secured to the door post, a locking cam rotatably mounted on said bracket and engageable with said projection to lock the door in closed position, aligned polygonal openings in said cam and bracket substantially at the axis of rotation of the cam, and a polygonal rod slidable in said opening to lock said cam thereby preventing rotation thereof.

10. In a vehicle having a door post and a door movable relative thereto, a door locking device including a xed projection, a bracket secured to the door post, a locking cam rotatably mounted on said bracket and engageable with said projection to lock the door in closed position, aligned polygonal openings in said cam and bracket substantially at the axisl of rotation of the cam, and a polygonal rod slidable in said opening to lock said cam thereby preventing rotation thereof, said polygonal rod being slidable and rotatable to a position whereby it may function as an operating handle for said cam.

l1. In a vehicle having a door post and a door movable relative thereto, a door locking device including a iixed projection, a bracket secured to the door post, a locking cam rotatably mounted on said bracket and engageable with said projection to lock the door in closed position, aligned polygonal openings in said cam and bracket substantially at the axis of rotation of the cam, lugs formed on said cam, and a polygonal rod slidably 'carried by said cam, said rod being engageable in the door post, a locking cam rotatably mounted on said bracket and engageable with said projection to lock the door in closed position, aligned openings in said cam and bracket substantially at the axis of rotation of the cam, means eX- tending through said openings for rotatably securing said cam on said bracket, and cam locking means secured to said means and engageable with a portion of said cam to lock the same in :a preselected position.

13. Ina fastening device having a fixed projection element, a bracket element, a locking cam rotatably mounted by and on said bracket element and arranged to cooperatively engage said projection, aligned polygonal openings in said cam and bracket element substantially at the axis of rotation of the cam, and a rod slidable in said openings to lock said cam and prevent rotation thereof.

14. In a fastening device having a fixed projection element, a bracket element, a locking cam rotatably mounted on said bracket element and cooperatively engageable with said fixed projection, aligned polygonal openings in said carn and bracket element substantially at the axis of rotation of the cam, and a polygonal rod rotatable and slidable in said openings to lock said cam and prevent rotation thereof, said polygonal rod being slidable and rotatable to a position whereby it may function as an operating handle for said cam.

15. In a fastening device having a fixed projection element, a bracket element, a locking cam rotatably mounted on said bracket element and cooperatively engageable with said Xed projection, aligned polygonal openings in said cam and bracket element substantially at the axis of rotation of the cam, spaced apart lugs formed on said cam, and a polygonal rod slidably carried by said cam, said rod being so constructed and arranged as to be engageable in one position With the bracket and cam to lock the latter against rotation and being engageable in another position between said spaced' lugs to form an operating handle for the cam.

16. In a fastening device having a fixed projection element, a supporting element, a locking cam rotatably mounted on said supporting elernent to cooperatively engage said fixed element, and a cam locking means engageable with the locking cam in a plurality of preselected positions to prevent rotation of the locking cam from the preselected position, said cam locking means constituting an operating handle for the locking cam when out of locking engagement with said cam.

JOSEPH C. ABEL. 

